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Sep 18, 2026
Getting into a crash with a rideshare driver or while in a rideshare vehicle can be stressful, especially in serious collisions. It helps to know what to do after a rideshare accident in Arizona, and the step-by-step guide of what you should do immediately following the crash.
1. Prioritize Safety
Your first step should always be to look after yourself and others in the crash. Check for injuries, determine if anyone is seriously hurt, and move vehicles out of the roadway if it is possible.
In Arizona, you should only clear vehicles off the roadway if they can be driven and no one has been seriously hurt or killed. If you can’t move the vehicles, get individuals out of harm’s way.
2. Call 911
Call 911 to report the accident and any injuries. In Arizona, you are required to report an accident with death or injury. To be safe, it is always better to report the incident, even if you think there are no injuries. Reporting the accident is crucial to get everyone checked for injuries and to have a third-party record of the crash.
3. Report the Accident in the App
Next, report the accident in the rideshare app if you are a rideshare driver or passenger. Most major rideshare companies have a way to report an accident from inside the app. This provides a time-stamped and dated record of the incident and preserves additional data about the trip, like when it started, how long the driver was working, and other information.
4. Gather and Document Evidence
In addition to reporting the crash, you should screenshot the trip screen as a passenger or rideshare driver. The screenshots should include relevant information like the driver’s name, the pickup location and time, and the drop-off location.
It’s crucial that anyone in the accident has evidence about whether the rideshare driver was logged into the app or not.
Whether you were in the rideshare vehicle or another car, you should gather evidence of the crash. This includes noting vehicle license plates, photographing the positioning and damage to vehicles, and taking videos of the scene, the road conditions, the traffic signals, and more. You should also take photos of any injuries.
5. Exchange Information
Parties in an accident should exchange information, including contact and insurance information of any involved drivers and passengers. If there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, exchange contact information with them, as well.
6. Work With Emergency Responders
When emergency medical responders arrive, get medical care. You may think you are fine, but have internal injuries and other injuries that are hidden by your adrenaline. Having a medical professional look over you helps protect your health and can improve your claim’s evidence.
When law enforcement officers arrive, the responding officer will create a police report. If prompted, you should provide factual information about the crash, without speculating on information you don’t know for sure. The police report will outline the damage to the vehicles and a preliminary assumption of fault. This is important information for a future claim.
7. Contact a Lawyer
When you are able to leave the scene, you should get legal representation as soon as possible, and before you talk with the insurance companies of any other parties in the crash. An attorney can work quickly to preserve evidence and gather the information needed to file a claim that lets you secure financial compensation.
Vehicle and Rideshare Accidents in Arizona
There were a total of 121,107 vehicle crashes in Arizona in 2024, including 88,094 in Maricopa County. There were 37,649 injuries and 594 fatalities in Maricopa County’s crashes. As the number of rideshare drivers on the road increases, so does the number of accidents that involve rideshare drivers.
Uber and Lyft provide safety reports on accidents, although the most recent safety reports are from several years ago, reporting 111 fatalities in Lyft vehicles from 2020 to 2022 and 153 fatalities in Uber vehicles from 2021 to 2022.
FAQs
What Should You Not Say to a Rideshare Insurance Company After an Accident?
After an accident, you should never admit fault to a rideshare insurance company. Ideally, you should avoid discussing the accident with the rideshare insurer at all, outside of the basic facts of the incident if required. Insurance companies will use any statements to try to limit liability. While this is less of a concern if you are a rideshare passenger, it could severely limit the liability you recover if you are a third-party driver or passenger.
What Is the First Thing You Should Do Immediately After an Accident?
The first thing you should do immediately after an accident is get yourself and others to safety and call 911 to report the accident and injuries. This is crucial to protect the well-being of yourself and others in the accident. Never move anyone who can’t move themselves, as this can worsen injuries. You should move vehicles out of the roadway, unless there is a serious injury or wrongful death, if the vehicles can be moved safely.
Does Uber Usually Settle Out of Court?
Yes, Uber car accident claims usually settle out of court, which is the case for most vehicle accident claims. Court cases are costly and public, so companies generally try to avoid them. Avoiding court is usually ideal for all parties, but filing in civil court may be needed if the rideshare insurance company won’t settle for fairly valued compensation in negotiations. If you have legal representation, they can help you weigh the pros and cons of filing in court.
When Do You Need to Hire a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Arizona?
You should hire a rideshare accident lawyer in Arizona as soon as possible after an accident. The sooner you begin working with a lawyer, the sooner they can act to preserve evidence, investigate the accident, and refuse a lowball settlement offer. Early support by a lawyer can do a lot to create a strong accident claim and protect your financial interests. Legal representation is important whether you are a driver or passenger.
Your Arizona Rideshare Accident Attorney
If you were in a rideshare accident in Arizona, Bleaman Law Firm, P.C., can help, either in negotiations or in courts like the Judicial Branch for Arizona in Maricopa County. Contact our firm today.
Arizona Rideshare Accident Resources:
